[musictlk] having dccsccculty with choir director

[Leslie Hamric]

Your listening skills are going to be your best tools. What I do is maybe I'll cut off just a half second early so I'm not hanging over. Follow your musical instincts. They will help you along the way. Maybe your director is trying to challenge you in a good way. Keep at it and don't give up. Good luck.
Leslie

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 23, 2014, at 3:15 PM, Kelsey Nicolay via musictlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello,
> I posted a similar question before, but here goes.  I am in a community choir that is strictly volunteer, although we have to pay dues at the beginning of the season.  I really enjoy the group and have made some good friends.  However, I am having trouble getting the director to accommodate my blindness.  He does make sure I have all the music I need and that I have a music stand, but the problem is that I cannot see when he is conducting.  I can get when to come in based on reading the Braille score, but the problem is when there is a fermata and he holds it for as long as he wants.  I have no way of knowing when to cut off.  I suggested having my neighbor tap me on the arm when it is time to release, but this director wants no part of that, saying that it would cause a distraction.  While I understand where he's coming from with that, without that feedback though, I'm basically left in the dark about when he is going to release a certain note.  I sent an email to the group's president explaining that for a blind person, there really is no way for them to know when to cut off without some sort of tactile cue from a neighbor and I asked if the three of us could meet to come up with a plan that meets everyone's needs and draws as little attention to me as possible.  Does anyone have any ideas on how a sighted neighbor could relay such information to me tactually without drawing attention to myself or them? I hope to have this discussion near the beginning of the season.  I have a friend in the group who I know outside of the chorus, but she's in a different section, so she really can't help much.  I would appreciate any suggestions you all might have.  Also, your suggestions will be shared with the president and the director, although I will remove your names from them.  If you do not want your opinion to be shared, please write me offlist and say so.
> I'm going to compile a document with all your suggestions.
> Thanks,
> Kelsey Nicolay
> 
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